With the holidays upon us and the end of the tax year approaching, many Minnesotans are thinking about making year-end charitable contributions. The holiday season is also a time for generosity and giving, as many look to help the less fortunate through charitable donations. This brochure is designed to provide you with information that will help you navigate charitable giving during the holiday season.

The changing times and technology have impacted the methods charities use to ask for donations. No longer are charitable solicitations limited to telephone calls, mailings, e-mail pleas, and red kettles. Some donors are looking for more convenient ways to give, and technology has helped nonprofit organizations accommodate that demand. Donors may now find that they are asked to give at retail cash registers, ATMs, via text messages, and through social networking websites. As you contemplate whether to respond to these solicitations, here are some issues to consider:

Are fees assessed? While in some cases vendors may waive fees for charitable donations, others may charge hefty fees to the donor and/or charity for the convenience of using those tools. If fees are not disclosed, you should check whether you or the charity will be charged extra fees for making donations through an ATM, text message or other such means.

Will your donation go to the charity? While technology may offer convenience, it also opens the door to fraud. For example, you may be asked to give to a cause via text message, but the organization may not be reputable or the number you are asked to enter may be fraudulent. To make sure your donation is going where it is supposed to, take the time to make sure the charity is valid and that your donation was received.

Has the charity or retailer been vetted? Many are asked to donate to a charity while making a purchase. Donors give, trusting that the retailer has done its research and is requesting funds on behalf of a reputable charity. Donors should feel free to seek more information about the arrangement and confirm whether the retailer has done its research about the charity. Donors should also feel free to contact the charity directly to make sure the retailer is forwarding donations as promised.

How well do you know the charity? Studies show that donors are more likely to give when asked by a friend. Charities know this, and many have started campaigns using social networking tools to raise funds. Some charities send fund-raising kits to donors, asking them to solicit their neighbors for donations. Others have started Facebook pages to encourage giving through social network. Oftentimes, however, these are "pass it on" requests and organizations are not necessarily vetted or researched when the request is made. As with any solicitation, even when forwarded from a friend, you should research and ask all the important questions (as described below) about the charity to ensure your dollars are going where they should.

Page 2 of 2 - Will your privacy be secure? Giving through convenient tools may mean your donating habits are easier to detect. If you are concerned about your privacy, check to see if your information is harvested and shared by those offering the convenience.

No matter the form of the solicitation, donors should research a charity before giving. This is not always easy when asked to give a dollar here or five dollars there over the course of the holiday season. But the best way to make sure your charitable dollars are going where you wish is to research the organization before giving. Find out what the charity will do with your gift and ask about the types of programs your gift will support, and how the charity will use your gift to achieve its stated purposes.

Find out if the charity is registered with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office to solicit so that you may independently review the organization. If you have questions about a charitable organization or fund-raiser or if you wish to file a complaint about an organization that has solicited you for a contribution, contact the Attorney General's Office Charities Division at: Minnesota Attorney General's Office, Charities Division, 1200 Bremer Tower, 445 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-2130, or (651) 296-3353, or (800) 657-3787 or www.ag.state.mn.us